Astros trade McCullers, Gordon to Brewers for OF prospect Fielder

HOUSTON – Lance McCullers Jr., the veteran right-hander who helped the Astros win a pair of World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 while pitching in some of the biggest games in franchise history, approved a trade to the Brewers on Wednesday, giving him a chance to continue his career while enabling Houston to shed some payroll.

Those factors were on McCullers’ mind when he waived his no-trade clause at the request of owner Jim Crane and agreed to a deal to Milwaukee. The Astros also sent Triple-A lefty Colton Gordon and cash to the Brewers in exchange for Single-A outfielder Jadyn Fielder, the son of former slugger Prince Fielder and grandson of Cecil Fielder.

“It’s a lot to take in, but I've been in Houston basically my whole adult life, had two kids here,” McCullers told MLB.com. “This is my home and it will continue to be my home. I accomplished a lot of great things, and I wish I could have done more, but such is life. I'm proud of what I helped this great organization accomplish over the years and I'm looking forward to a new opportunity with another great organization in Milwaukee.”

Crane called McCullers earlier this week to gauge his willingness to go elsewhere. McCullers had “10-and-5 rights,” which gives him the complete veto power any trade. A 10-and-5 player has accrued 10 years in the big leagues and five with the same team.

TRADE DETAILS
Astros get: Minors OF Jadyn Fielder
Brewers get: RHP Lance McCullers Jr., LHP Colton Gordon, cash

The Astros had no spot for McCullers in their rotation with starters Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski set to come off the injured list later this month. Neither Blanco, Wesneski or reliever Bennett Souda, who could come off the IL on Friday, are on the 40-man roster, so trading McCullers and Gordon created a pair 40-man spots.

“These decisions are always difficult when you have guys that have been pillars in organization,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “Lance graciously accepted a trade, and what he’s meant to the organization makes it even more difficult. We had some decisions to make in terms of creating some roster flexibility, so we decided we would trade him.”

McCullers, who has been on the IL since May 19 with a right rotator cuff impingement, posted a 6.86 ERA in 39 1/3 innings across eight starts with the Astros this season, which was the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract. The Brewers will pay most of the remaining contract, giving Houston a bit more payroll flexibility at the Trade Deadline.

“I won't be part of the organization moving forward as a player, but it’s still an organization that I care about a lot,” McCullers said. “I felt like it was an opportunity for the Astros to move forward and continue their year and playoff aspirations, and gave me an opportunity to go to a great team who's in first place, who, after speaking with them, felt like something that they really [believed was a] good move.”

Drafted by the Astros with the No. 41 overall pick in 2012, McCullers signed with the Astros -- who took shortstop Carlos Correa with the No. 1 pick that year -- instead of attending the University of Florida. Correa and McCullers were the first wave of top prospects to reach the Astros, who began rebuilding after the 2011 season and soon began an incredible run of dominance American League.

McCullers made his Major League debut on May 18, 2015, at 21 years old and became a mainstay in the Houston rotation, as well as a fan favorite. McCullers held the Royals to two runs and two hits in 6 1/3 innings in the 2015 ALDS in his first postseason start, and wound up posting a 3.47 ERA in 19 career playoff games (12 starts).

McCullers’ most notable postseason moment came in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the Yankees, when he threw the final four innings in relief, allowing no runs and one hit to clinch the AL pennant. He famously threw 24 consecutive curveballs to end the game.

McCullers started Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium that season and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings -- a game more notable for him hitting four batters and driving in a run with the bat -- to help Houston win its first World Series. He also threw the first six innings in the Astros’ 1-0, epic 18-inning win over the Mariners in Seattle in Game 5 of the 2022 ALDS.

The second half of McCullers’ tenure in Houston was marred by injuries. He returned to action last year following a 2 1/2-year layoff and posted a 6.51 ERA in 55 1/3 innings in 16 games (13 starts), though he landed on the injured list three more times in ’25.

McCullers missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and injured his flexor tendon in Game 4 of the ‘21 ALDS and missed the next two seasons. He underwent surgery in June 2023 to repair a flexor tendon and hasn't been the same pitcher post-surgeries.

“No doubt, I'll cherish all my years that I had here in Houston,” McCullers said. “The things that always stand out to me is just my teammates and how much I care for the, and the lifelong relationships that I've made here and the city and how they embraced me, and how much I genuinely cared about the city of Houston and the fans.

"I tried to do all I could in the community and left it tenfold out there on the field every time I took the ball, good or bad. I could always hang my hat on that.”